Wood-bending apparatus.



F. SCHREIBMAN.

WOOD BENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-5.1917.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

4 @vwemfoz F. SCHREIBMAN.

WOOD BENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATIONQHLED JAN.

Patented Aug. 6,. 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FREDERIC SCHREIBMAN, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

WOOD-BENDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. January 5, 1917. Serial No. 140,664.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIG Sonnnm- MAN, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident of the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \VoochBending Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to the shaping of moist wood for various purposes in the arts, and are designed to afford simple, inexpensive, yet effective apparatus by means of which the desired results may be expeditiously attained and rendered permanent. The invention consists in the specific arrangement and construction of parts described and claimed, a distinctive feature being the method of reinforcing, sustaining and securing the bent wood until perinanently set in shape, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the essential features of my invention, showing the completion of the operation of bending and securing a wooden blank, parts being broken away to show minor details of construction;

Fig. 2, is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, also partly broken away to show details;

Fig. 3, is a central vertical sectional elevation taken substantially upon plane of line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. at, is a transverse sectional elevation taken upon plane of line 4i, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a side or edge View of the wooden blank and its retainer before insertion in the press;

Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the bent wooden blank and its retainer removed from the press.

In the arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings F, represents the stationary frame work of the structure generally, although I do not limit myself to the identical form of parts shown, since the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention in this respect,-the essential feature being the provision of suitable support for the hoist-mechanism H, and the movable die M, in. proper relation and alinement with the stationary die N. I have also shown herein the apparatus as adapted to the bending of a straight length of wood plank into the are of a circle, although the essential features of my invention are applicable to the production of various other configurations of wood as a product.

The female or concave die N, is positioned 011 a suitable bed F, to which the uprights F are attached, the superstructure being built up with cross beams, trusses etc, in any suitable manner, and the hoist mechanism being suspended on the top beams of the frame. The hoist mechanism is preferably of the type actuated by electricity although this is not a material point, since other forms of hoist mechanism may be used to raise and lower the weighted male or convex die M, which is the only function performed by the hoist H, indicated symbolically in the drawings, in which 71,, represents the usual fall block and tackle hook, which latter engages the link m, upon which the die M, and its weight platform m, are suspended by means of flexible connections m m he ends of the movable platform m, (to the under side of which the convex die M, is rigidly secured) rest in vertical guide ways g, 9, preferably consisting of angle plates attached to the inner sides of the corner uprights F F of the frame; and contact rollers 1'', r, may be mounted on said ends of the weight platform m, to reduce frictional resistance and insure easy travel.

4 The convex die M, when made of wood is provided with a metallic facing m, for contacting directly with the surface of the wooden blank to be shaped.

The platform m, may be provided on its upper side with guard rails m, m", to insure the retention of the weights V, W,

placed on the platform to effect the bending of the prepared wooden blank, which latter consists ordinarily of a plank of uniform Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

width and. thickness although other forms of blanks may be treated in similar manner. The weights are so arranged as to balance the platform and die evenly as related to the line of suspension, thus insuring pres tion of the take-up bolt 2?, of the blank holder and retainer T, the. main portion of which consists of a strip of relatively thin elastic resilient sheet metal 6, to the extremities of which are rigidly secured the clamp mem-.

hers 25 formed with bifurcated end ex tensionst t to straddle the aforesaid takeup bolt 2f.

s, s, are side guards on the dies which hold and support the blank B, laterally during the bending operation.

The manipulation of the blank B, is as follows: It is taken directly from the steam chest where it has been saturated with moisture andinserted in a retainer T, of approximate length, with the clamp members t overlapping its ends, and a wedge t is then inserted between one end and the inner side of the adjacent clamp member to make a close fit'and compensate for slight variations in the lengths of blanks. Thus incased on its lower side and ends it is positioned across the concave die l with its ends resting upon the die shelves a, a, and with one extremity against a gage shoulder 17/, to centralize it in alinement with both dies "M, N. The convex die M, is then lowered and forces the blank into the concave die N, imparting to the blank the requisite shape or configuration. While the blank is still under the pressure of the convex die M,

the take-up bolt rod 25, is inserted through the longitudinal recess m in said die and dropped into the upturned bifurcated ends of the clamp members of the retainer T, cylindrical washers t, are applied to the ends of the bolt rod 6, to bear against said ends of the clamp members (6 and hand nuts t, are applied to the threaded ends of the bolt rod and screwed up against the outer ends of said cylindrical. washers 27*, thereby binding the retainer T, as a whole to the bent blank in such manner that the latter cannot yield when the pressure of the convex die is withdrawn. Hence when the convex die is raised sufficiently the bent blankand its retainer may be removed intact,the shaped blank B, not being released from the retainer T, until the blank has permanently set in form.

This operation may be repeated with successive blanks in an expeditious manner, the

manipulation being simple and requiring little or no skilled labor. As compared With the old method of shaping blanks by screw pressure much economy is effected both in time, labor and cost of production, since the percentage of loss from blanks broken in treatment is reduced to, the minimum owing to the'fact that thepressure is uniformly applied, and to the further fact that the blank while under treatment is reinforced and sustained by the retainer T. Furthermore the apparatus is very simple and inexpensive as compared with the complicated apparatus heretofore used for the purpose, and the product is not only cheaper but .superior in uniformity of shape and quality.

I have herein shown and described the convex die M, as movable with relation to the concave dieN, although it. is obvious that this relationship might be reversed without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention, so that I do not limit myself in this respect;

It will be seen that a distinctive feature of my invention consists in pivotally supporting the upper or movable die upon a flexible suspender in such manner as to allow said die to yield and adapt itself auto-- matically to thework to be done, thereby obviating injury to the work; and in this connection the movable weights perform an important function in that while providing adequate pressure they are not irresistible, and furthermore afford convenient means whereby the pressure may be lessened or augmented, or shifted and adjusted as may be found most expedient in adapting the movable die to the requirements of the blanks operated upon.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, 7

1. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die, and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, flexible means for pivotally suspending saidmovable convex die in such manner thatit is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, and hoisting mechanism connectedwith said flexible means of suspension, whereby said movable convex die may be raised or lowered with relation to the fixed'concave die, for the purpose described.

2. In wood bending apparatus character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die, and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, means for supporting loose weights on said movable convex die, said loose weights, flexible means for pivotally suspending said movable and Weighted convex die in such manner that it is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, and hoisting mechanism connected with said flexible means of suspension, whereby said weighted movable of the i convex die may be raised or lowered with relation to the said fixed concave die, for the purpose described.

3. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, means for supporting loose weights on said movable convex die, said loose weights, guide ways controlling the vertical movement of said weighted convex die, flexible means for pivotally suspending said weighted movable convex die in such manner that it is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, and hoisting mechanism connected with said flexible means of suspension, whereby said weighted movable convex die may be raised or lowered with relation to said fixed concave die. for the purpose described.

at. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, means for supporting loose weights on said movable convex die, said loose weights, guide ways controlling the vertical movement of said weighted convex die, side guards extending beyond the opposed faces of said dies for the lateral support of the wooden blank therebetween, flexible means for pivotally suspending said weighted movable convex die in such manner that it is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, and hoisting mechanism connected with said flexible means of suspension, whereby said weighted movable convex die may be raised or lowered with relation to said fixed concave die, for the purpose described.

5. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, said movable convex die being formed with a longitudinal recess in its face, means for supporting loose weights on said movable convex die, said movable weights, flexible means for pivotally suspending said weighted movable convex die in such manner that it is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, hoisting mechanism connected with said flexible means of suspension, whereby said weighted movable convex die may be raised and lowered with relation to said fixed concave die, and a blank retainer consisting of a strip of flexible metal formed with clamps adapted to embrace the ends of the wooden blank and With a take-up bolt engaging with the said clamps and adapted to extend through said longitudinal recess in the face of the weighted movable convex die, together with means for securing said clamps to said takeup rod, for the purpose described.

6. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, said movable convex die being formed with a longitudinal recess in its face, means for supporting loose weights on said movable convex die, said movable weights, flexible means for pivotally suspending said weighted movable convex die in such manner that it is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, hoisting mechanism connected with said flexible means of suspension, whereby said weighted movable convex die may be 'aised and lowered with relation to said fixed concave die, guide ways controlling the vertical movement of said weighted convex die, and a blank retainer consisting of a strip of flexible metal formed with clamps adapted to embrace the ends of the wooden blank and with a take-up bolt engaging with the said clamps and adapted to extend through said longitudinal recess in the face of the weighted movable convex die, together with means for securing said clamps to said take-up rod, for the purpose described.

7 In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a fixed lower concave die and a movable upper convex die in alinement therewith, said movable convex die being formed with a longitudinal recess in its face, means for supporting loose weights on said movable convex die, said movable weights, flexible means for pivotally suspending said weighted movable convex die in such manner that it is free to adapt itself to the work to be done, hoisting mechanism coimected with said flexible means of suspension, whereby said weighted movable convex die may be raised and lowered with relation to said fixed con ave die, guide ways controlling the vertical movement of said weighted convex die, side guards extending beyond the opposed faces of said dies for the lateral support of the wooden blank therebetween, and a blank retainer consisting of a strip of flexible metal formed with clamps adapted to embrace the ends of the wooden blank and with a takeup bolt engaging with the said clamps and adapted to extend through said longitudinal recess in the face of the weighted movable convex die, together with means for securing said clamps to said take-up rod, for the purpose described.

8. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a concave die and a convex die, one stationary and the other movable with relation thereto, the movable die being pivotally supported upon a flexible Suspender, and hoisting mechanism connected with said flexible suspender whereby the movable die may be raised and lowered, for the purpose described.

9. In wood bending apparatus of the character designated, in combination, a conmemes cave die and a convex die, one stationary flexible suspender whereby thesaid Weighted and the other movable .With relation thereto, movable die may be raised and lowered, for the movable die being .pivotally supported the purpose described.

upon a flexible Suspender and being pro- FREDERIG SCHREIBMAN. 5 vided With means for supporting loose Witnesses:

Weights thereon, said loose Weights, and GEO. WVM. MIATT,

hoisting mechanism connected with said DOROTHY MIATT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Weehington, 3 G." 

